Over the past two days the students at CU Photography have been listening to and learning from John Blakemore, finding out about his inspiration, working methods, handmade books and printing techniques as well as exploring his images.

Blakemore spent time talking about his work from past to present, then students were able to take part in workshops looking at different elements of his practice including his love for making his own books. The students also worked with Blakemore in the darkroom looking at how he prints his own negatives and they were also given the chance to work with him to print some of their own negatives. This was a rare opportunity for all of the students that worked with him, and it was a fantastic two day workshop.

This Masterclass was organised by Coventry-born photographer Jason Tilley as a part of his project ‘Hillfields Happening’, where Tilley will be responding to Blakemore’s images taken in the Hillfields area in Coventry in the 1960s.

Supported by a grant from Arts Council England, Tilley’s images and the archive that inspired them will be exhibited in FARGO, Coventry, in the summer. FARGO falls within the boundary of Hillfields. For more information go to Imagine Hillfields.

The project is also supported by Warwick University, The Library of Birmingham, Grain, Coventry University and WATCH (Working Actively to Change Hillfields).